Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New
Year, also known as the Feast of the
Trumpets. It is observed on the first
day of the seventh month, Tishri,
occurring usually in September. Rosh
ha-Shanah is held in great reverence
as the Day of Judgment (Yom ha-Din),
the beginning of the 10-day period
concluding with Yom Kippur and known
as the “Days of Awe,” during
which, according to tradition, all the
people of the earth pass before the
Lord and are marked in the “Book of
Life” or in the “Book of Death.”
A distinguishing feature of the New
Year is the blowing of the shofar
(a ram's horn), which summons Jews to
penitential observance. Orthodox and
Conservative Jews celebrate Rosh ha-Shanah
for two days; most Reform
congregations celebrate the first day.